Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-09-23
FARM NOTES.

The color of pure Devon cattle is red,
varying from rich dark to pale chest
nut.
Beasts with small chests do not fatten
readily, and are very susceptible 10 dis
sease.
This is the time of the year to feed sun
flower seeds to the hens, as the seeds will
assist them to molt. Feed the seeds three
times a week.
Fifty years ago our wild strawberry
was almost unknewn in the garden, yet
by careful selections and cultivation, we
have now many valuable varieties, each
possessing different characteristics from
the others.
September is the best month for the
fall pigs to come in, as IL gives them
time to make fair growth before the CO Id
weather sets in. When pigs are farrowed
late they DO not thrive unless they receive
extra attention.
Young and tender heritage is greedily
eaten by all classes of stock. Weeds
when just shooting out of the ground are
relished also. Some weeds that are
poisonous when matured are harmless
when young and tender.
The theory that lima beans will ger
inmate if placed in the ground edgewise
is refuted by Prof. Halsted, who has CON-
Quoted a series of experiments in order
to determine the claim. He is of the
opinion that the seeds should be laid fiat
on their sides.
BY blowing two burrows on each side
of the hedge, not only will the roots be
shortened, but the loosening of the soil
will benefit the hedge, as well as clean the
surface of the ground. While a hedge
fence well kept is very attractive, the
harboring of weeds at its base makes the
farm very Vnsightly.
Mr.. Albaugh well known in Ohio horti
| culture, says that one grower sowed oats
| among his grapes every spring to pre-
vent rot, and considered it a success. M.
Miller, of Ohio, sowed copperas-about l
pound to square rod-in his vineyard
early in the summer, and again later. No
rot has appeared since this treatment.
Prepare trees for planting by cutting
the tops back in proportion to the
amount of injury done to the roots,
which is generally from one-half to two
thirds of the entire top. On this prun
ing all shoots should be entirely cut away
that are not needed for the formation of
a perfect head, and the others cut back
one-half to twothirds of their length.
Hungarian grass proper has black seed
mainly. The.millets have yellow seed.
Hungarian grass has less head and more
stalk and leaf, and is less liable to rust,
and hence is better hay crop and not
SO good a grain or seed crop. In select
| ing seed for a hay crop b1y of reliable
scotsman, and take that which has the
largest possible proportion of black seed.
The deeper the preparation Of the soil
the deeper will the roots penetrate, thus
advancing closer to moisture, as well as
permitting of the growth o. large pro
portion of those rootlets that collect
food. If the soil be shallow and the sub
sell hard the roots will spread nearer the
surface thus rendering them not only
more liable TO being wintSrkilled, but al
SO to damage from drouth.
All hardy, strong gro wing grasses, like
orchard grass and timothy, may be sown
in early spring or autumn. 1t is import
| ant that it be sown on the fine mellow
seed-bed, in the fall, and the seed must
be covered with a light harrow or press
ed into the soil by roller. If sewn thus
i'll the fall early there will be good crop
of hay the next year. 1t is better to sow
clover seed early in the spring, SO that
the young plants may grow one season
before exposure to the severe frosts of
winter.
Though work does not press now Us it
does in the spring months, and the gar
dener car take vacation, yet there sew
eral important things that must not be
overlooked. Sow spinach and German
green's and sprouts to winter in the open
ground; also onion sets and shallots.
Sow early cabbsges, caulifowers and let
tuce, to raise plants to be wintered in
cold frames. The plants must be neither
too large nor to small, hence the date of
sowing is important. Near New York
many SOW on the 18th; others find it
safer to make two sowings, one on the
18th and the other on the 10th of this
month.